Football practice apparatus



March 22, 1960 J. J. FEULA 2,929,629

FOOTBALL PRACTICE. APPARATUS Filed lay 5, 1957 i 2,929,629 [Ce Patented Mar- 9 FOOTBALL PRACTICE APPARATUS James J. Feula, Washington, D.C.

Application May 3, 1957, Serial No. 656,929

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-55) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in football practice apparatus, particularly apparatus of the type wherein a vertically elongated dummy 1s supported substantially at the center thereof by horizontally yieldable resilient means so that players may be taught in the art of charging and blocking, etc. Various conventional devices of this type exist.

While such conventional machines are generally satisfactory for the purpose for which they are intended, specifically they sufier from the disadvantage that a charging player has an inherent tendency to come in contact with the upper end portion of the vertically elongated dummy, which is substantially at shoulder height. It is well recognized in the art of football training and practice that charging at a much lower level, preferably waist or thigh level, is far superior and thus, the conventional machines fail to encourage this highly important phase of the training procedure.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to elirm'nate the aforesaid disadvantage inherent to the use of the conventional machines, this object being attained by the provision of means whereby a charging player is positively discouraged from coming in contact with the upper end portion of the dummy and is directed toward the intermediate portion thereof, so that his charge, block or tackle may take place at the comparatively lower level where it is regarded to be most beneficial.

As such, an important feature of the invention involves the provision of a deflector pad which is located on and projects forwardly from the upper end portion of the dummy so as to deter a charging player from coming in contact with the latter.

Another important feature of the invention resides in providing the deflector pad with a downwardly and rearwardly slanting lower surface which, functioning in the nature of a cam, directs the charging player toward the intermediate portion of the dummy.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means for removably attaching the deflector pad to the dummy of a conventional machine, whereby the pad may be conveniently used on machines which are already in existence.

Another feature, involving a modified form of the invention, resides in embodying the pad as an integral part of the dummy, in dummies or entire machines when newly constructed.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its efficient and dependable operation, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the above more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional football practice apparatus having the invention applied thereto;

a Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the invention on an enlarged scale, in position on the dummy;

7 Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the subject shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the invention per se; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a dummy having the invention embodied integrally therein.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, particularly Figures l-5 thereof, the general reference numeral 10 designates a conventional football practice apparatus, commonly known as the sled type, such as for example is disclosed in Patent No. 1,962,088. It is to be understood, however, that the use of the present invention is not restricted to this particular device which is shown for illustrative purposes only, and that the invention may be used on any conventional apparatus of similar type.

In any event, the apparatus 1%) usually comprises a sled or skid type base 11 having a suitable framework 12 thereon to support a vertically elongated leaf spring 13 which, being defiectablerearwardly in the direction of the arrow v14, provides horizontally 'yieldable, resilient supporting means for a vertically elongated dummy $5.

The intermediate portion 15a of the dummy 15 is secured through a cushion block 16 to the intermediate portion of the spring 13. In some instances the conventional dummy is straight, or as shown in the drawings, it may be reversely curved so that the intermediate portion 15a is concave while the respective upper and lower end portions 15b and 15c are convex. The upper end portion 15b is disposed substantially at shoulder height and when the conventional device is in use, the charging player has an inherent tendency to come in contact with it, rather than to direct his charge in the comparatively lower level of the intermediate portion 15a where the act of charging or blocking is preferable since it is substantially at waist or thigh height of opposing players in an actual game.

Accordingly, the invention resides in the provision of what may be called a deflector pad 17 which is mounted on and projects forwardly from the upper end portion 15b of the dummy 15, so as to deter a charging player from coming in contact therewith. Moreover, the pad 17 has a rearwardly and downwardly slanting lower surface 18 which, functioning in the manner of a cam, directs the charging player downwardly toward the intermediate portion 15:: of the dummy, in other words, to the level where the charging or blocking action is preferred to take place.

The pad 17 preferably consists of an outer casing 17aof canvas or other suitable material and a filler 17b of cushioning material such as curled hair, or the like. Means are provided for removably mounting the pad 17 on the dummy, these means comprising an inverted pocket 19 which is provided on the casing 17a at the upper end of the back of the pad, and is adapted to receive therein the upper end of the dummy portion 15b, as will be clearly apparent. Moreover, a pair of flexible flaps 20 are provided at opposite sides of the casing 17a at the back of the pad, below the pocket 19, these flaps being adapted to be extended rearwardly and inwardly to embrace the dummy portion 15b, as is best shown in Fig. 4. The rear edge portions of the flaps 20 are provided with apertures or eyelets 21 through which a suitable lace 22 is threaded, whereby to firmly hold the pad in position on the dummy.

a If desired or necessary, a flexible tongue (not shown) may be extended downwardly from the pocket 19 and affixed in the cushion block 16 between the spring 13 and the dummy 15 so as to prevent the pad 17 from sliding upwardly on'the dummy. t

-It will be apparent that by virtue of the mounting -means 19, 20, 22, the pad 17 may be applied to any conventional dummy and easily removed therefrom. for

installation on another, if so desired. Thus, the invention may be used on a conventional practice machine without any need for modifying the structure thereof. 1

On the other hand, in instances of newly constructed dummies or entire machines, the .pad may be formed integrally With'the upper end portion of thevdummy as casing of the dummy, since the conventional dummy is' usually constructed in substantially the same manner as already described in connection with the construction of the pad. By a similar token, the cushioning filler of the dummy may be extended into the casing of the pad, without any physical partition therebetween.

It is customary for a conventional machine to be provided with two or more laterally spaced dummies and thus, an individual pad may be used on each of the several dummies of the same machine.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the'invention relates. Accordingly it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, and various modifications may be resorted to such as j -2,929,629 M r V A A y c may lie the spirit and scope 'of the appended claims. 1 a

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a football practice apparatus, the combination of a vertically elongated dummy having a reversely curved configuration and including a concave intermediate portion and convex upper and lower end portions, horizontally yieldable resilient means secured to the back of the intermediate portion of said dummy for supporting the same, and a deflector attachment for said dummy, said attachment comprising a block-shaped deflector pad provided on and projecting forwardly from the upper end portion 'of the dummy whereby to deter acharging player from comingiin contact therewith, said deflector pad having a downwardly'and rearwardly slanting lower surface adapted to direct a charging player toward the concave intermediate portion of the dummy.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with an invertedpocket providedat the back of said'deflector pad and receiving the .upper end of said dummy therein,

" a pair of flexible flaps provided at, side edges of said Torpedo Driveback, Marty Gilman Inc., Football Field Equipment Fly-1952; 2 pages. 

